Chemical Warfare, Chemical Disarmament

Chemical weapons have been employed in many conflicts since the turn of the century, and they continue to proliferate as the poor man's atom bomb. NATO has expressed increasing concern at the chemical warfare capability of the Soviet Union and the United States has recommenced the manufacture of chemical weapons after a moratorium of 18 years. Against this background, this study examines the issues raised by chemical warfare, past and present. Assessing the history of the problem, from the time of World War I, when the use of chemical weapons first became commonplace, to the significance of chemicals used in the current Gulf War, the author argues for a balanced and realistic international response to this threat. The implications of future NATO policies and negotiations currently underway regarding chemical deployment are highlighted. Valerie Adams has worked in the Ministery of Defence, and the Department of War Studies at King's College, London. Her other publications include "The Falklands Conflict" and "The Media and the Falkland Campaign".